What reason was given? Surely it can't be based (purely) on results - the new man won't have had any say in season preparation and will have little time to make any signings.

I suppose if you were trying to look for some logic to this barmy decision, sacking him now means that if they appoint his successor pronto he has up to the 31 August deadline to try and bring in players to work to his preferred style of play.

Personally, I think it just proves how little has changed since Len Shackleton's autobiography contained a chapter on the average Director's knowledge of football which comprised a single blank page.